Automatic free-discharge valve.



v No. 808,461. P

A. LEE. ATENTEE DEG.. 26, 1905. AUTOMATIC EEEE DISCHARGE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1905` @MME/who@ And?? zal .Q e

NTTED STATES PATENT FFTCE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed July 31,1905. Serial No. 272,043.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Free-Discharge Valve and Tail-Pipe Condensers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic free-discharge valve and tail-pipe condensers.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will operate automatically to control the exhaust-steam from a pump, whereby said steam will be directed into the condenser and suction-pipe of the pump when the latter is working and which should it be accidentally stopped will cut oi' the discharge ofsteam to the condenser and will direct said steam through a free-exhaust pipe to the atmosphere, thus preventing the entrance of the steam to the pump, thereby destroying' the valves or otherwise disturbing the action of the pump.

Another object is to provide a device of this character formed in sections, so that when any part becomes worn out it may be replaced at a small cost.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which will be simple, strong', and durable in construction, efficient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Tith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device and a portion of the pipes which lead therefrom to the pump. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the automatic valve-operating mechanism.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the suction-pipe to a pump, and 2 denotes a steam-exhaust pipe from the pump. In the latter pipe is arranged a valvecasing 3, to which is connected a free-exhaust pipe 4, opening into the atmosphere, and an exhaust-pipe 5, leading to the condenser 6,

which is here shown as a jet-condenser and is arranged in the elbow of the pump suctionpipe 1.

In the valve-casing 3 are arranged removable valve-seats 7 and 8, the valve-seat7 afford- `ing communication from the steam-exhaust pipe 2 of the pump to the free-exhaust pipe 4:, leading to the atmosphere. The valve-seat 8 aiords communication between the steamexhaust pipe 2 and the exhaust-pipe 5, leadingto the condenser. Slidably mounted in the valve-casing 3 is a valve-stem 9, on the lower end of which is secured a valve 10, adapted to be moved into engagement with one or the other ot' the valve-seats 7 or 8 to prevent the passage of exhaust-steam therethrough.

The valve-stem 9 passes out through the valve-casing 3 through a stufing-box 13 and is connected to the lower end of a piston-rod 14, on which is mounted a piston 15, which operates in a cylinder 16, supported upon standards 17, secured to the valve-casing 3. On the cylinder 16 is arranged a steam-chest 18, in which is arranged a sliding valve 19 to control the passage of steam into the cylinder 16. Vith the steam-chest 18 is connected a steam-supply pipe 20, and with the cylinder 16 is connected an exhaust-pipe 21, the opposite end of which opens into the valve-casing 3, adjacent to the end of the exhaust-pipe 2 from the pump, as shown.

To the valve 19 is connected a downwardlyprojecting valve-stem 22, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to an operatinglever 23. One end of this lever 23 is pivotally connected to a depending arm or bracket 24, secured to the lower end of the cylinder 16. The opposite end of the lever 23 is pivotally attached to a connecting rod or link 25, the upper end of which is connected to a piston 26, slidably mounted in a vacuum pan or cylinder 27, which is arranged on the upper end ot' the cylinder 16, as shown. Communicating with the upper end of the vacuum pan or cylinder 27 is a suction or vacuum pipe 28, in which is arranged a cut-oli valve 29. The

lower end or' the pipe 28 is connected with and opens into the elbow of the pump suctionpipe 1 immediately above and adjacent to the end of the jet-condenser 6.

The operation of the device is as follows: When a vacuum is formed in the pipe 28 by the suction from the pump through the snc- IOO ' which will cause the piston 26 in the vacuum tion-pipe 1 and the valve 29 in said pipe 28 is open, the piston Q6 in the vacuum pan or cylinder 27 will be raised, thereby operating' the lever 23, which will shift the slide-valve 19 upwardly to admit steam to the cylinder 16 below the piston 15, thereby forcing said piston upwardly, which will raise thc valvestem 9 and the valve 10 upwardly to cause said valve to engage the seat 7, thus closing the passage of the free-exhaust pipe 4; and causing the exhaust-steam from the pump to pass through the valve-seat 8 and the exhaustpipe 5 to the suction-pipe. 1t' for any reason the pump should be accidentally stopped, the suction through the pipe 1 will cease, thus destroying the vacuum in the pipe 28,

pan or cylinder 27 te drop, thereby operating the slide-valve 19 to cause the same to admit steam to the cylinder 16 above the piston 15, which will force the valve 10 downwardly into engagement with the valve-seat 8, thereby cutting off the exhaust-steam of the pump from the exhaust-pipe 5 of the condenser, and causing' said steam to be passed through the valve-seat T into the free-exhaust pipe 4:, by which it is conducted to and discharged into the atmosphere at a suitable point. By this A arrangement the exhaust-steam from the pump will be automatically controlled and during the operation of the pump will be discharged to the suction-pipe ci the pump. 1f, as before stated, the engine should be stopped for any reason, the passage of the exhauststeam tc the suction-pipe of the pump will be instantly stopped by the automatically-operated valve 10 and will be directed to the freeexhaust pipe and by this conducted to and discharged Ainto the atmosphere.

While 1 have shown and described the vacuum-pipe E28 as communicating' with the tail or suction pipe of the engine, it is obvious that said vacuum-pipe may, ii' desired, be connected with the jet-condenser to protect the same from the exhaust-steam in case said jet-condenser loses its vacuum.

From the foregoing' description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrilicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with -the suction-pipe of a pump, a steam-exhaust pipe, a branch pipe leading from the exhaust-pipe t0 the suctionpipe, a valve to cause the exhaust-steam to be discharged from the exhaust-pipe either to the l atmosphere or through the branch pipe, steam-pressure-actuated means to operate the said valve, a valve to control the operation of the said steam-pressure-actuated means, and means actuated by the suction of the suctionpipe to operate the last-mentioned valve.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with the suction-pipe and the steam-exhaust pipe of a pump, of a valve-casing arranged on said exhaust-pipe, a branch pipe leading from said valve-casing to said suction-pipe, a valve arranged in said casing, and means whereby said valve is automatically operated to control the steam 'from said steamexhaust pipe, substantially as described.

3. 1n a device of the character described, the combination with the suction-pipe and the steam-exhaust pipe of a pump, ot' a valve-casing arranged on said exhaust-pipe, a branch pipe leading' from said valve-casing' to said suction-pipe, a free-exhaust pipe to conduct steam from said valve-casing to the atmosphere, a valve arranged in said casing to control the passage of steam 'from said steam-exhaust pipe to the said branch pipe or to said free-exhaust pipe, a steam-cylinder, a piston arranged in said cylinder, means to connect said piston with said valve, and means to automatically operate said piston and thereby shift said controlling-valve, substantially as described.

Li. In a device oi' the character described, the combination with the suction-pipe and the steam-exhaust pipe of a pump, of a valve-casing arranged on said exhaust-pipe, a branch pipe leading' from said valve-casing to said suction-pipe, a free-exhaust pipe to conduct IOO steam from said valve-casing to the atmospliere, a valve arranged in said casing to control the passage of steam from said steam-exhaust pipe to the said branch pipe or to said tree-exhaust pipe, a steam-cylinder, a piston arranged in said cylinder, a piston-rod connected to said piston, a valve-stem to connect said valve with said piston-rod, a valve to control the admission of steam to said cylinder and thereby operate said valve, and means to operate said valve by the suction in the suction-pipe of the pump, substantially as described.

5. ln a device ot the character described, the combination with the suction-pipe andthe steam-exhaust pipe of a pump, oi2 a valve-casing arranged on said exhaust-pipe, an eX- haust-pipe leading' from said valve-casing to said suction-pipe, a free-exhaust pipe to conduct steam from said valve-casing to the atmosphere, a valve arranged in said casing to control the passage of steam from said steamexhaust pipe to the said suction-pipe or to said free-exhaust pipe, a steam-cylinder, a piston arranged insaid cylinder, means to connect said piston with said, controllingvalve, a slide-valve arranged on said steam- IIO Cylinder to admit steam thereto, whereby said In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my pistonl is operlated, a Valculmcylinder ar- -hand in presence of tWo subscribing1 Witnesses. rangec on saic steam-cy in er, a piston ar'- ranged in said Vacuum-Cylinder, and a Valved ANDREW LEE' Vacuum-pipe eonnectingsaid Vacuum-cylinder Witnesses:

with the suction-pipe of the pump, substan- JOHN KEMP,

tially as and for the purposes described. JOHN J. KELLEY. 

